First Night of Live Week, Victory at Wheeler Hall, UC Berkeley, 12/7/09: photos

by dave id
Tuesday Dec 8th, 2009 5:18 PM

Wheeler Hall at UC Berkeley has been reclaimed for "Live Week" as a public space for use as a 24-hour university open to everyone, students and non-students alike. The reclamation continues throughout the week and supporters are encouraged to come and participate at all hours of the day.

On opening night, police first said they would close Wheeler Hall at 7:30pm. Those inside remained. Bob Meister, Professor of Social Sciences and Political Thought at UCSC, was able to give his scheduled talk in the evening. Other UCPD deadlines, including the last one of 11pm for building closure, came and went with the majority of those in the building remaining. Occupants danced to music, watched movies, studied, cleaned the hall, and discussed and planned their next steps.

Police locked the doors after 10pm, but those inside continued to open the doors from the inside allowing anyone who wanted to enter the building. Eventually, police gave in and participants were allowed to come and go as they pleased, with many in sleeping bags sleeping throughout the building while others maintained a night watch.